Police nab speedsters wreaking havoc on Qld roads

emcbryde |
30th Dec 2015 6:43 AM
Updated:
9:00 AM

Emma McBryde
Journalist
Although born and bred in Rockhampton, I’m still learning more and more about the people and community every day. We have a community filled with both inspirational locals and people who have been hard done by. I enjoy telling their tales and hopefully using my position to right the wrongs.

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SPEED demons are causing the most trouble for Queensland Police as officers try to stem the rising road toll these Christmas holidays.

Road Policing Command inspector Peter Flanders said a speed camera in the central region, which included Bundaberg, Gladstone, Gympie, Mackay, Maryborough, Rockhampton and the Sunshine Coast, clocked a motorbike rider travelling at 215kmh on Monday.

The rider was in a 110kmh zone on the Bruce Hwy at Glasshouse Mountains.

Another driver in the same area was caught travelling at 177kmh and a station wagon was clocked doing 123kmh in an 80kmh zone on the Bruce Hwy at Tinana South, near Maryborough.

"If something goes wrong ... it doesn't matter if you're the greatest driver in the world," said Insp Flanders, the officer in charge of the police road safety campaign.

"The tiniest thing has to happen and that person's dead or another person's dead. A number of families will not have the same people at the Christmas table next year." A 28-year-old man driving a black ute at Gladstone created dramatic scenes on Boxing Day; driving dangerously before crashing.

He managed to flee police first in the mangroves, and later in bushland. Gladstone Police are yet to catch him.

Insp Flanders said police struggled to get the Fatal Five message - to pay attention, wear a seatbelt and avoid speeding, driving while fatigued and drink and drug driving - across to 10% of drivers.

Eight drunk drivers were caught on the roads in the central region on Monday, day six of the campaign.

A drunk driver caught at Mount Perry, 100km west of Bundaberg, had a blood alcohol level of 0.179%.

"Warnings get through to 90% of people," Insp Flanders said. "The other 10% take their own life... and they take these risks with our lives."